Recoil and stabilizing mechanism for a rifle



May 18 1955 L. J. FLEWELLEN 3,183,618

RECOIL AND STABILIZING MECHANISM FOR A RIFLE Filed June 11. 1964 lo /4a /sa /3 /a 14. In` /7 146 /76 i I O FIG, i /z z/ /5 /6 /4e /se my ma l? lsf 1f [lac/136 /mf/m- 14u/lu L N L lia o L/ ///1\) \\\\\2 F |G.2 /sa /56 /sa /c /3 ne /4 /9 Md 17.1.. /z

/z /c 132 /35 /74 /a l l` 17e /7f /9 /73 /7 22 l/ 17d /7e /7a Z3 /7 24 l?? Z5' 26 FIG. 4 was INVENTOR. LLOYD J. FLEWEL/.E/V

ATTORNEY United States Patent O 3,183,613 RECOIL AND STABILIZING MECHANISM FOR A RIFLE Lloyd I. Flewellen, 1427 E. Sandalwood, San Antonio, Tex. Filed .lune 11, 1964, Ser. No. 374,465 3 Claims. (Cl. 42-75) The present invention relates to a recoil and stabilizing mechanism for weapons or the like and more particularly to such a mechanism which maintains the barrel of a rifle in a xed relationship relative to the stock thereby increasing the accuracy of the weapon.

At the present time the recoil lug on many bolt operated ries inserts into a recess which is provided in the stock, said recess is of the approximate size and shape of the recoil lug whereby the recoil of the weapon is transferred to the stock and'thence to the shoulder and arms of the marksman. If the rear end of said recess is not parallel to the rear face of the recoil lug which bears thereagainst, it is obvious that when the weapon is fired the recoil will not be transferred uniformly to the entire end of said recess but the force will be applied only to those portions abutting the recoil lug, causing the barrel to whip lor change its position relative to the stock with each shot. Furthermore, it is well known that atmospheric changes cause warpage and creates forces within the `stock which affects the relationship of the barrel to the stock to which it is affixed.

The subject invention relates to novel recoil and stabilizing means whereby the recoil lug is irmly secured to the stock and wherein the recoil is transmitted uniformly to the stock regardless of minor angular deviations existing between the end of the recess and the transverse axis of the recoil lug. Such novel construction eliminates this barrel whip and is capable of being incorporated in all new weapons at manufacture, or alternatively, an existing weapon may be modified to include such stabilizing means.

An object of the present invention is the provision of means which minimize barrel whip.

Another object is to provide stabilizing means whereby the rifle barrel is xedly secured to the stock.

A further object of the invention is the provision of means whereby the recoil of a weapon is transferred uniformly to the stock with each shot.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of means whereby the accuracy of the weapon is increased.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of such a stabilizer which is extremely simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, capable of mass production techniques, easy to use and adjust, and is universal in its adaptability.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art as the disclosure is made in the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying sheet of drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, side elevational view of the medial portion of a rifle including a cut-away portion illustrating the subject invention.

FIG. 2 is a top plan View of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view with the cover plate removed.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational View of a modification of the invention; and

FIG. 5 is a slightly enlarged, longitudinal sectional View through still another modification of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, there is shown in FIG. 1 of the Patented May 18, 1965 drawings the medial portion of a weapon 10 comprising a barrel 11 which partially inserts in and is secured to a stock 12 which is constructed of wood or the like.

The barrel 11 includes an essentially rectangular, perpendicularly depending recoil lug 13 which may be integrally formed with the barrel or secured thereto in any conventional manner, wherein the minor axis of said recoil lug is transverse to the longitudinal axis of the barrel. For purposes of convenience, the rearmost and foremost surfaces of said recoil lug 13 will hereinafter be designated 13a-13b, respectively.

As viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, an essentially rectangular recess 14 is provided, in a conventional manner, in the stock 12 in proximity to the recoil lug, said recess includes ends 14a-14h, sides 14C-14d, and bottom 14e. The lower surface 13C of the recoil lug clears the bottom 14e as best seen in FIG. 1.

Referring now to FIG. 2 of the drawings, a rst spacing element 15 is positioned on the bottom 14e (see FIG. l) and includes a llat rear surface 15a which abuts end 14a of the recess 14; the foremost end 15b of said spacing element is concave in plan and preferably includes slightly radiused edges 15C. A second spacing element 16 is also positioned on bottom 14e and includes a rearrnost surface 16a which is convex in plan, a liat foremost surface 16!) and radiused edges 16e. The surface 10b of element 16 abuts the rearmost surface 13a of the recoil lug. When the elements 15, 16 are properly positioned, as best seen in FIG. 2, the concave surface 15b mates with the convex surface 16a; since the width of each respective element is slightly less than the distance between the sides 14c-14d, the said elements are adjustable laterally and the outermost surfaces 15a, 16b thereof bear against the rearmost end 1411 of the recess and the rearmost surface 13a of the recoil lug regardless of minor angular deviations existing therebetween. Furthermore,

since the entire rear surface of the recoil lug is uniformly supported in this manner by the entire end of the recess, the recoil is transmitted uniformly to the stock and the barrel is maintained in the same relationship to the stock and the barrel will not traverse laterally.

The elements 15, 16 are preferably composed of stainless steel or the like; the surfaces 15b, 16a are ground smooth to permit a sliding action therebetween, and the combined thickness of said elements should be slightly greater than the distance provided between end 14a and the rearmost surface 13a of the recoil lug.

As viewed in FIGS. l-3, an assembly 17 is provided to bear against and exert a force against the foremost surface 13b of the recoil lug whereby the elements 15, 16 heretofore described are maintained in position. More particularly, assembly 17 includes a central, cylindrical portion 17a which terminates at one end in an expanded, essentially rectangular base 17b; the base 17b bears against the foremost end 141') of the recess. The cylindrical portion 17a is internally threaded (see FIG. 5) t0 receive screw 17e, which may be threaded in accordance with any of the five series of threads known as the American Standard series. Screw 17a includes a head 17d, preferably hexagonal, each face 17e of which includes a bore 17f perpendicular thereto which passes completely through the head. Head 17d abuts and bears against the foremost end 13b of the recoil lug. As shown in FIG. 3, a setscrew 13 or the like threadingly inserts into the cylindrical portion 17a of assembly 17, the innermost end of said setscrew bears against the threads of screw 17o locking it in position.

There is shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings an essentially rectangular opening 19 provided in the lower surface of the stock 12 which permits access to the screw head 17d whereby the assembly 17 may be adjusted. An instrument such as an Allen wrench or the like may be c of screw 17C.

passed through the opening 19 and inserted into the bore 17f; the head 17d is rotated in such manner to bear against the foremost surface 13b of the recoil lug.

A cover plate 20, slightly concave in section and oval in plan, covers the opening 19 and is secured in position as by means of wood screws 21 or the like. Preferably plate 20 is positioned in a recess 22 of corresponding configuration whereby the surface of the said cover is iiush with the undersurface of the stock. In the modification of FIG. 4 a rectangular leaf spring Z3 is provided between the screw head 17d and the foremost surface 13b of the recoil Vlug. One end 23a of said springl is positioned in the junction formed by barrel 11 with the recoil lug 13 While the other end 23b of said spring is free to slide along surface 13b of the recoil lug. Not only does ysuch arrangement hold the assembly 17 in position prior to adjusting screw 17e but alsowhen spring 23 is compressed by means of rotation of screw 17c, an additional force is applied against the screw head helping to maintain the entire system under a desired vdegreeof compression.

Referring now to FIG. 5 of the drawings, there is shown a further modiication of the invention. In such embodiment a longitudinal, cylindrical chamber 17g is provided in Screw 17e; the said chamber includes a shoulder 17h and a communicating chamber 171' of reduced diameter which terminates in a bore 17 j in the approximate center of head 17d. A pin 24, including an elongate, cylindrical shank 24a with an expanded, cylindrical,

base portion 24b slidably inserts in chambers 171', 17g, l

respectively. One end of a coil spring 25 bears against the end of base portion 2 4b while the other end bears against setscrew 26 which threadingly inserts into the end The shank of pin 24 extends through the bore 17]l and bears against the foremost surface 13b of the recoil lug prior to adjustment. Pressure against the tip of pin 24 causes the said pin to retract into the chambers 17g, 171'.

The medial and basal portions of assembly 17 may be imbedded in the foremost end of recess 14 as by means of a compo'stion material such as wood filler, fiberglass, or epoxy resin. Access should be provided, however, for adjustment of the setscrew `1,8.

It is to be understood, of course, that the foregoing disclosure relates to only preferred embodiments of the invention and that it is intended to cover all changes and modifications of the examples of the invention herein chosen for the purposes of the disclosure, which do not constitute departures from vthe spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A recoil and stabilizing mechanism for a rifle consisting of a barrel, a downwardly depending recoil lug secured to said barrel and a stock comprising an essentially rectangular recess in said stock in proximity to said recoil lug, a plurality of shaped elements in said recess, one of said plurality of shaped elements including a concave surface and one of said plurality of shaped elements including a convex surface, one of said plurality of shaped elements bearing against'one side of said recoil lug, and adjustable means in said recess and bearing against the opposite side of said recoil lug.

2. A recoil and stabilizing mechanism for a riiie consisting of a barrel, a downwardly depending recoil lug secured to said barrel and a stock comprising an essentially rectangular recess in said stock in proximity to said recoil lug, said recess including irst and second ends,

first and second adjustable'mating elements positionedY and second shaped elements inserted in said recess be-YV tween said iirst end and said recoil lug, said iirst shaped element including a concave surface and the corresponding portion on said second shaped element being convex, and adjustable means positioned in said'recess and bearing against said recoil lug rand the second end of said recess, said adjustable means comprising a base, a cylindrical portion, a screw including a head, and a plurality of bores passing through the head transverse to the longitudinal axis of the screw.

References Cited by the Examiner UNTTED STATESA PATENTS 1,886,113 11/32 Liman 42--75l 2,610,426v 9/52 Emerson v 42-75 FOREIGN PATENTS 3/54 Canada 42-75 BENJAMIN A. BORCHELT, Primary Examiner. Y

sA-Theux 

2. A RECOIL AND STABILIZING MECHANISM FOR A RIFLE CONSISTING OF A BARREL, A DOWNWARDLY DEPENDING RECOIL LUG SECURED TO SAID BARREL AND A STOCK COMPRISING AN ESSENTIALLY RECTANGULAR RECESS IN SAID STOCK IN PROXIMITY AN ESSENTIALRECOIL LUG, SAID RECESS INCLUDING FIRST AND SECOND ENDS, FIRST AND SECOND ADJUSTABLE MATING ELEMENTS POSITIONED IN SAID RECESS BETWEEN SAID FIRST END AND SAID RECOIL LUG, SAID FIRST ADJUSTABLE MATING ELEMENT INCLUDING A CONCAVE SURFACE AND THE CORRESPONDING PORTION ON SAID SECOND ADJUSTABLE MATING ELEMENT BEING CONVEX, AND ADJUSTABLE MEANS IN SAID RECESS BEARING AGAINST SAID SECOND END AND SAID RECOIL LUG. 